Telescope Reviews: Pentax XW's Toast?

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Equipment Discussions >> Eyepieces

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Sarkikos]
#5693293 - 02/21/13 06:24 PM

I don't believe the XO's were true abbe orthos, they were similar though. Problem is that they only made the 2.5 and the 5.0. No eye relief there at all. I would have wanted nothing smaller than a 6mm and use a barlow to achieve higher power.

Post Extras:

Scanning4Comets
Markus

Reged: 12/26/04

Loc: Deep Space!

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Sarkikos]
#5693298 - 02/21/13 06:28 PM

Quote:

The only XW I'd like that I don't have is the XW 5, but I really don't want to pay $299 for a new one. My ES 82 4.7 will have to take an XW 5's slot in the eyepiece case.

Mike

I just grabbed a 5mm Vixen LVW....Gonna try it out tonight. I really want a 5mm XW tho.....So, you know the drill.

Cheers,

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johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Scanning4Comets]
#5693319 - 02/21/13 06:45 PM

Pentax made a set of .965 orthos for awhile that are considered among the absolute best, up there with the ZAOs. Releasing them again in 1.25" housings would be awesome and I think, a big seller.

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Sgt
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/17/05

Loc: Under the southern horn of the...

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5693347 - 02/21/13 07:09 PM

May be we should invoke the XW Buddha? Someone say XW 3 times.

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Sarkikos
Postmaster

Reged: 12/18/07

Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Lane]
#5693371 - 02/21/13 07:21 PM

Quote:

I don't believe the XO's were true abbe orthos, they were similar though. Problem is that they only made the 2.5 and the 5.0. No eye relief there at all. I would have wanted nothing smaller than a 6mm and use a barlow to achieve higher power.

Yes, I wish Pentax had extended the line. A couple XO 10mm would have been great for binoviewing in my Newts. They aren't true Abbe orthos, but does that really matter? They are sharper and have better scatter control than any "real" orthos, except maybe the ZAO's.

But the XO's do have eye relief. They give plenty of relief to my eyes when I'm observing planets or double stars.

Mike

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Sarkikos
Postmaster

Reged: 12/18/07

Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Sarkikos]
#5693378 - 02/21/13 07:25 PM

I just picked up a new Nagler 4-2 Zoom for $225. So I guess I'll let my pursuit of the XW 5 rest for awhile. I need to think about selling some of my redundant eyepieces.

Mike

Post Extras:

Sarkikos
Postmaster

Reged: 12/18/07

Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Sarkikos]
#5693386 - 02/21/13 07:30 PM

XW! XW! XW!

Where is the XW Buddha? Where are you when the XW minions need you? In a cave on Mount Fuji, meditating on the imminent extinction of the XW's? Say it isn't so!

Mike

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Starman81
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/06/08

Loc: Metro Detroit, MI, USA

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: BillP]
#5693393 - 02/21/13 07:34 PM

Quote:

I just got off the line with Pentax USA (chat). They also said the XW line is being discontinued. No word from Japan HQ if a new line will be produced to replace. ...luckily I've got them all excepting the 30mm.

I've never been more grateful for the Delos line than I am right now. The XWs are my true favorites and I took pleasure in knowing they were somewhat readily available, new or used and well priced. If for any reason I need to replace the XWs and the used prices are no longer 'economical' (i.e. sky high), the Delos line is there to fill the void.

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Sarkikos]
#5693397 - 02/21/13 07:35 PM

The XW Buddha is probably having a heart attack about now.

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Sarkikos
Postmaster

Reged: 12/18/07

Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Lane]
#5693401 - 02/21/13 07:41 PM

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johnnyha
Postmaster

Reged: 11/12/06

Loc: Sherman Oaks, CA

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Lane]
#5693405 - 02/21/13 07:41 PM

XW. XW. XW.

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Sarkikos
Postmaster

Reged: 12/18/07

Loc: Suburban Maryland, USA

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Sarkikos]
#5693412 - 02/21/13 07:44 PM

Well, I suppose like t.r. suggested, I can always Barlow my XW 10 and get an XW 5.

Mike

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ausastronomer
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/30/03

Loc: Kiama NSW (Australia)

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5693425 - 02/21/13 07:52 PM

Quote:

Releasing them again in 1.25" housings would be awesome and I think, a big seller.

I believe Hoya still owns the sports optics division of Pentax. Ricoh certainly owns the imaging division of Pentax, not sure if sports optics went with imaging when that moved in July, 2011.

Unfortunately a big seller in a very small market probably doesn't work for either company, so you may not see it happen.

Cheers,

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astro_baby
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 06/17/08

Loc: United Kingdom

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: ausastronomer]
#5693977 - 02/22/13 03:20 AM

The XW Busdha has a full set of XWs and so has reached Nirvana and is most likley no longer interested in earthly cares like will they or wont thay cancel the XWs.

Having seen the light he has moved on to a higher state.....those minions unwise enough not have heeded his counsel are left to wail and gnash their teeth and rend their cloths and say 'why didnt I take his advice on board man and go forth and multiply my collection of glass from the holy Pentax factory'

Those unwise enough are now doomed to only experience muddy glass and so will never enter the kingdom of EP Nirvana.

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Sgt
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/17/05

Loc: Under the southern horn of the...

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: astro_baby]
#5693992 - 02/22/13 03:47 AM

Quote:

Those unwise enough are now doomed to only experience muddy glass and so will never enter the kingdom of EP Nirvana.

Or worse they could stray down the false path of Skywatcher Nirvanas.

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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster

Reged: 04/08/02

Loc: PA, USA, Planet Earth

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: johnnyha]
#5694006 - 02/22/13 04:13 AM

Quote:

Pentax made a set of .965 orthos for awhile that are considered among the absolute best, up there with the ZAOs. Releasing them again in 1.25" housings would be awesome and I think, a big seller.

The Pentax SMC Orthoscopics were excellent eyepieces.

Dave Mitsky

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Greg77
member

Reged: 05/02/09

Loc: Slovenia (EU)

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Dave Mitsky]
#5694007 - 02/22/13 04:21 AM

Funny that no "premium" manufacturers like Pentax, Nikon, TV, ES, Meade, Celestron, Zeiss, Takahashi, ect. no (longer) make a full set of orthos, ranging from...lets say 4-5mm to 12 or better 16mm and up...

Sometimes I hate all this XXXUWA hype...

I'm glad that I have my small set of XWs ranging from 5 to 20mm, but a small set of orthos would be also nice to have. Not too expensive. But thats just my wishful thinking...

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Scanning4Comets
Markus

Reged: 12/26/04

Loc: Deep Space!

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Greg77]
#5694018 - 02/22/13 04:44 AM

Not everybody is alike. I HATE Orthos and their "straw-like fields". I've never owned an Ortho in my life and I never will.

YMMV....

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Greg77
member

Reged: 05/02/09

Loc: Slovenia (EU)

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? new

[Re: Scanning4Comets]
#5694032 - 02/22/13 05:01 AM

I have this "love-hate relationship" with orthos. I hate them when they fog-up and get dirty with eyelashes, but miss them , when I sell them.

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MRNUTTY
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 11/22/11

Loc: Mendon, MA

Re: Pentax XW's Toast? [Re: Greg77]
#5694095 - 02/22/13 07:07 AM

Quote:

Funny that no "premium" manufacturers like Pentax, Nikon, TV, ES, Meade, Celestron, Zeiss, Takahashi, ect. no (longer) make a full set of orthos, ranging from...lets say 4-5mm to 12 or better 16mm and up...

Greg, that's been my want for some time. The only solution it seems at this point is to invest in Seibert's SS3/SS4 Orthos. While I've had four high powers SS3's for some time, I've lacked the time time to really investigate them and compare them to my other Orthos other than some quick peeks at daytime. Those look very good as it is, but the night rules! They don't get mentioned often but when to they do, they're always held in high regard. But since they don't have the volume and brand cachet not many here know them well. Once I get my observatory up its the first time I plan to look at to decide to get 5,6,7,8, and 9 mm. Judging from the MonoCentric's I have they're definately are great pieces. :-) the only down side is a 4-6 weeks delivery. That's still quicker then ES has been :-)

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